Chapter 54
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Friday morning after a lovely, quiet Thursday night spent alone in her apartment, trying not to dwell on Phillip Keiser’s final words, Jane took the ferry back to Bainbridge Island.
She had promised to spend the weekend with family at the ranch, and she was way overdue for a visit with Jenn Sullivan.
Fortunately, Jenn had only stayed a few days in the hospital before being released into her aunt’s care. Like Jane, Jenn had spent her time sleeping and recovering. Now, it sounded as if she’d turned into a huge pain in the butt.
At the door, Jane was met by an older version of Jenn. It still felt odd to think of Sullivan as a Jenn, but Jane was starting to get used to it. The more she used it, the more natural it would become.
“How wonderful. You must be Jane. Jenn’s been talking about you.” The older woman yanked Jane in for a hug. “You saved her life. Thank you so much.” She pulled back, tears in her eyes.
Jane felt awkward. “Yeah, well. It seemed like the thing to do.”
The woman laughed and wiped her eyes. “Oh, and I’m Susan. Come on in.” Susan closed and locked the door. “Jenn’s in the far room in the back. I’ll be there in a minute. I’ve just got some cookies in the oven.”
“I came at the perfect time then.” Jane smiled, immediately thinking back to Lena Keiser, who would never bake another batch again, and Maria Lito.
For all that Phillip had done bad things in search of righting a great wrong, he’d lost so much more than his way. From all accounts, the Keisers had been admirable people who helped many. The loss from their passing, along with Phillip and his victims, would be felt for a very long time.
She found Jenn’s room easily enough, with sunlight streaming through the blinds, flowers everywhere, and a large sleigh bed with a scowling woman in the center of it. Jenn’s hair stood on end, and her robe looked soft but threadbare in spots.
“Dressed up just for me, eh?” Jane asked with a smile.
“Screw you. Took you long enough to come visit.” The smile that blossomed on Jenn’s face made the bright room even brighter. “So what’s the scoop?”
“I’ll tell you, but first, what’s with the garden in here?”
Jenn blushed. “Turns out Dash is a terrific guy after all. He keeps saying I saved him. I didn’t.”
“I think you did. You kept a cool head and Rob’s attention on you and not him. I also read in the report that you talked him and his mob guys out of killing Dash outright. Not sure how you did it, but kudos.”
“Thanks.” Jenn’s smile faded. “I still can’t believe Rob was selling out. It hurts, you know?” She patted her chest. “You think you know someone. But I guess you don’t.”
Jane sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. “I know. I don’t know how I never saw it. I’m usually a pretty good judge of people.” The knowledge Williams had been guilty and right in front of her would bother her for a very long time.
She’d suspected something wasn’t right with the Mazzuca investigation for a while. Perhaps if Williams hadn’t set her up to get suspended, she’d have figured him out. She hoped.
“Are you feeling okay?” Jenn asked.
“I should be asking you that.”
“Oh, I’m good. They sewed up all the holes, so I’m told.
The angle of the wound was such that it went through fatty tissue and lodged in my hip.
It did bleed a lot, and it hurts, but I’m thankful every day he didn’t shoot me in the stomach.
” She nodded to a bullet on her side table.
“That’s the little bugger they dug out.”
Jane stared, aware Jenn’s life could have turned in a much different direction. “Do you think Williams pulled his shot? Or that you just got lucky.”
Jenn teared up. “I’d like to think both.”
“Oy. Don’t cry. Your aunt will kick me out for disturbing you. And I’m really here for the cookies.”
Jenn laughed and wiped her eyes. “So what’s the scoop? And hey, I didn’t get to sign the cast!” she added as Jane pulled out of her jacket, feeling overly warm. “Pink. Really? Although with all that writing, it’s more like pink and black and blue. And green? Who used a green marker?”
“My idiot cousin.” Jane smiled as she said it, pride in her family and herself filling her with joy.
“We got the bad guys in the end on this one. And don’t tell anyone, but I don’t think Matthew Scott is as bad as we thought.
” Jane filled Jenn in on her conversation with their boss and on all she’d learned about the case.
Including the death of the rest of the Mazzucas.
“Wow. Code Blue cleaned up one case for us, didn’t he?” She groaned as she tried to sit up.
“Cookies,” Aunt Susan announced and scowled at Jenn. “Hey. Quit moving around so much.”
“That’s what I told her,” Jane said, sucking up so she got first dibs on the sweets. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, honey. And you can call me Aunt Susan.”
“Will do.” Jane smiled, at ease being the good kid, the good agent. But not always the good friend. She eyeballed Jenn. “You know, Aunt Susan, Jenn is lucky to have you. She always talks about you.”
She did, though Jane had rarely paid attention. Now, she’d do better. Or at least she’d try.
Jenn beamed. “Oh my gosh. You’re really using my name. I’m overjoyed.”
“Shut up.”
Aunt Susan bit back a grin. “I’ll leave you two alone. I have some more baking to do.”
Jenn groaned as she inhaled the cookies and nibbled on one. “I can’t help myself around these.”
“Ah, should you be eating that?”
“Shot in the hip, I said. I’m good.” Jenn held onto the cookie as if Jane meant to steal it. “You know she bakes for Swan’s Bakery.”
“These are the cookies from that place in Lynwood Center?” Jane took another off the plate. “Geez. I need to stop by more often.”
They laughed and chatted, less about work and more about Jenn’s boyfriend and Jane’s kooky family. So many cousins and uncles and friends that meant so much to her.
At one point, she glanced down at her cast and read what Matthew Scott had written. Welcome back. And then Rapp’s scrawl: Don’t worry. I’ll be back to work WITH you soon enough.
“Hey, me too,” Jenn had grabbed a pen and motioned for Jane to come closer.
“You need a marker.”
Jenn signed in purple. Thanks, Life Saver. JENN.
“Come on.”
“Have I told you how much I love how you turn pink when you’re embarrassed? I can’t wait to get back to the office to tell everyone how you saved my life and broke Rob in three places.”
“Well, that part was satisfying.” Jane doubted she’d ever look at the people she worked with the same way again. Maintaining trust was such a delicate balance.
“Did you ever doubt me?” Jenn asked.
“Maybe for a minute.”
Jenn perked up. “Because I’m sly and totally able to con people?”
“Because you and Williams both came from Vegas and knew Haversham.”
“Who was innocent.” Jenn shook her head. “Jane Cannon, Superstar FBI Agent? Ha.”
“Fine. You got me there.”
The rest of the morning passed with more laughs than Jane had expected.
And it was nice.
Tuesday morning, when she returned to work, she wore a smile as she sipped a latte and got back to her cases needing attention.
The files had been covered by the team as best they could, but they were all slammed with work that never stopped accumulating.
When one criminal went to jail, another took his place.
But that was part of the thrill in her work, a constant challenge that would never grow boring. And Jane knew she made a difference.
Hours later, a text from Gambol interrupted her. Great work. Thank you. Bonus from Uncle Sam. Check’s in the mail.
Jane snorted and muttered to herself, “Check’s in the mail. Yeah, right.” To Gambol, she sent, Happy to help.
Her phone chimed again. You impressed Gunther. Not an easy thing to do. Do you mind if I call you again sometime? I might have more work for you if you’re available.
Available? Jane had nothing but time to help clean up the riffraff trying to turn her city—her country—into chaos.
Anytime, she texted him.
Then she got back to work.
The story continues in Collateral. Keep reading for a sneak peek of book 2 in the Jane Cannon Series.